This neighbourhood brunch spot does a sterling job of serving up simple, wholesome food with a very genuine commitment to local suppliers in a cosy atmosphere. Tea is from Edinburgh’s Pekoe Tea, the coffee is from Williams & Johnson (a five-minute walk away on The Shore), the milk comes from Mossgiel Farm, Ayrshire and the cheese is from Kedar Cheese in Dumfriesshire. Leith and Newhaven locals in the know reap the rewards – Ostara’s breakfasts and cakes make for a good pit stop at the end of a scenic walk along the Water of Leith. Although the focus has been on brunch plates (the menu currently offers grilled kipper with poached eggs and sourdough toast; root vegetable rösti with mushrooms and fried egg, or banana bread French toast with Puddledub smoked bacon) there are plans to swap in some lighter lunch items and salads come summer. The chintzy room with its squashy armchairs, ornate cornicework and china teacups is also a good space to hire out for a private birthday party or special sit-down meal.

Reviews & features

The city's top places for tasty morning treats, from all-day breakfasts to a handy hair of the dog

These are the restaurants, cafés and bakeries that get top marks from us for dishing out good grub from the crack of dawn. Some have been chosen for successfully curing a hangover with their fry ups, some for their healthy, energy boosting dishes and…

From tea and coffee to cake and pastries, these Edinburgh hotspots do café culture right

Edinburgh's thriving independent café scene has put the Scottish capital on the coffee map. From the wee artisan to the established branches, you're never more than a few blocks away from the ideal flat white or the perfect laid-back brunch spot. With…

The 2017 edition of The List Eating and Drinking Guide is out and available to buy Wed 19 Apr. In the guide, the 24th annual round-up of the eating out scene in Edinburgh and Glasgow, nearly 1000 eating and drinking venues have been covered by a team of…